Cheese Puto are soft, fluffy, and extra delicious with pockets of cheese! These Filipino steamed cakes are easy to make and fun to eat; delicious on their own or served with dinuguan or pancit.
I hit the jackpot! I mean, the cheese puto jackpot, not the Mega Million Lotto which, by the way, is up to $324 million this coming Tuesday drawing.
Three hundred twenty-four million dollars! Can you imagine what you could do with all that money? I’m sure I’ll find 324,000,000 ways to spend 324,000,000 dollars. All it takes is $20 worth of Lotto tickets and a prayer. Somebody’s gotta win might as well be me, right?.
Ok, enough of the daydreaming and back to this puto recipe. Sure, these mini muffins are not exactly in the category of $324 million, but they come pretty close 🙂
I’ve always made mine with rice flour but when I found this recipe at My Expat Mom blog, I couldn’ t wait to try it! She said it’s her most popular recipe and one bite of the steamed cakes, I knew why. Soft, moist and fluffy with delicious pockets of cheese, they are pure heaven!
What is Puto Made Of
Puto is traditionally made of rice. The grains are soaked overnight in water to soften and then processed into a soft dough called galapong. The natural fermentation of soaking the rice acts as a leavening agent, but it’s also common to add yeast or baking powder to help the cake rise.
The prepared batter is either steamed as whole loaves or into individual portions and the steaming vessel is usually lined with banana leaves to impart aroma. Flavorings and toppings such as pandan water, cheese, salted eggs, grated coconut meat, and butter are also added for extra flavor and texture.
While the term puto is mostly associated with the muffins we have here, it also refers to other varieties of kakanin that are cooked by steaming such as lanson, kutsinta, and puto maya.
Tips on How to Make Cheese Puto
- The type of puto we have here is made of all-purpose flour, evaporated milk, and eggs. It’s a great base recipe you can modify to make other flavors; feel free to experiment with pandan or ube extracts!
- I like to add shredded cheddar to the batter to create creamy pockets of cheese. You can skip this if you like and just sprinkle on top. Other than cheddar, you can also use sliced salted eggs, kesong puti, processed cheese (Eden), and even ham or crisp-cooked bacon to add a savory note to the rice cakes.
- You might want to cover the lid with muslin (katsa) or any lightweight cotton to absorb the condensing steam.
- This recipe makes about 40 pieces using the mini molds and about 20 using regular size molds.
Equipment Needed to Make Puto
- Steamer with a conical-shaped lid to keep the condensing steam to drip down to the puto.
- Individual molds-you can use tin cans and ramekins but I prefer silicone mini muffin cups to make removing the steamed cake easier.
How to Serve Cheese Puto
These Filipino muffins are traditionally enjoyed on their own as a snack or dessert. They’re so good with hot coffee or ice-cold samalamig!
It’s also common to serve them as a side to savory dishes such as dinuguan or pancit guisado. Soft and fluffy, they provide a delicious contrast of flavor and texture.
Looking for more recipes to make in a steamer? This cassava suman made with grated kamoteng kahoy and coconut milk are heart and filling. It took me a while to nail down the perfect dough for siopao asado but these steamed buns are so worth the long search. Enjoy!
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 3 eggs
- 6 ounces evaporated milk
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup cheddar cheese. shredded
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, and baking powder. Mix well.
- Add eggs on at a time and using an electric mixer, beat after each addition.
- Add milk and beat until smooth.
- Add water and continue to beat until batter is thin and smooth.
- Add butter and vanilla extract. Stir until well blended.
- Add 3/4 of the cheese and stir until combined.
- Fill molds with batter up to 3/4 full. Arrange molds in a single layer on steamer rack and place over steamer.
- Steam for about 8 to 10 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Turn off heat and top each puto with the remaining 1/4 cup of cheese. Cover for about 1 minute to allow the residual heat to melt cheese.
- Allow to slightly cool before removing from molds.
Notes
Video
Nutrition Information
“This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.”
Suzette Doria says
What kind of steamer do you use?
Lalaine Manalo says
I have a wooden steamer, an electric one, and a metal one. 🙂
vangie dela cruz says
good am ano ho ang equivalent ng 6 oz na evap milk into cups . thanks and God bless
Lalaine Manalo says
6 ounces would be 3/4 cup or 180 ml. 🙂
Mabel Cordova says
I would to know what kind of steamer and brand did you use, thank you.
Lalaine Manalo says
I use a bamboo steamer I bought from Amazon. In the video, it’s an electric steamer you can also buy at Amazon 🙂
Rowena Sayioc says
Tipical n fiour lng po b ggmitin ndi rice flour??? Tnx po
Lalaine Manalo says
Yes, all-purpose flour at hindi rice flour 🙂
Rose Ruiz says
Hello po. I tried this recipe and super sarap po to the point I have orders pouring in. I tried to sell them in a pack of 5 minimum but price is per puece though nilakihan ko yung size. Unfortunately, lugi ako. Paano po ba magcompute para mabenta ko ng tama? Thanks.
Rose
Lalaine Manalo says
Hi Rose! Unfortunately I haven’t tried selling Cheese Puto, so I’m not sure. Sorry.
Rose Ruiz says
Hello po. Masarap po talaga itong recipe to the point na I have orders. Per piece po ginawa ko though malaki ng konti ang molders ko. Pero po nalugi ako. Paano po ba mag compute para maitama ko ang per piece na price? Thank you po.
Rose
Lalaine Manalo says
Hello, Rose,
I am glad you’re able to use the recipe for your business 🙂
To cost out the recipe and determine your pricing, tally lang ang gastos nang ingredients pati packaging at divide depende sa ilan packages ang yield niyo. Tapos markup niyo para sa tubo (usually 30 to 30 percent I think ang pagkain) i-consider rin ang gas sa pagluluto. For example, gastos nang ingredients is 10 dollars and this recipe makes 40 pieces. If you pack 8 sa isang container, bale ang yield niyo is 5. $10 divided by 5 packs=$2 per pack ang gastos. Then add ang cost nang packaging, kung 50 cents ang cost nang isang container, bale $2.50 ang cost nang isang pack. Patungan niyo po ang $2.50 to make a profit at consider niyo rin ang gas or electric sa pagluluto, delivery costs at siyempre ang pagod 🙂
Gina gamolo says
hi can i substitute butter milk instead of butter for puto
Lalaine Manalo says
I know buttermilk is used in a lot of baked goods but I haven’t personally tried it in this cheese puto recipe 🙁
Karen says
What brand of steamer are you using?
Lalaine Manalo says
I use a bamboo steamer usually but for the video, it’s an electric steamer you can buy online 🙂
Michelle Mariano says
Hello. Just tried this last night using a Bamboo Steamer
1. I like how the taste turned out – not too sweet
2. But, the texture is so moist.
Question:
1. Why do you think it’s so moist?
2. Is using a Bamboo Steamer ideal to cook the puto?
Thank you.
Lalaine Manalo says
The condensation or steam might have dripped on the puto. You can try wrapping the lid with katsa or cloth 🙂
Kara says
This is now my go to recipe if I want to make puto! Thanks for this wonderful recipe. Made puto 3 times now and they’re always perfect 😊
Lalaine Manalo says
Hi Kara! I’m glad you didn’t run into problems making yummy cheese puto!
Verna Dano says
Ano po ang advise nyo if I use stevia sa recipe instead of the white sugar? I’d like to make this putto cheese, but low sugar sana that’s why I want to use stevia. Will the proportions change? The thing I worry is the volume. Because instead of 1 cup sugar, I’ll be using 2 teaspoons stevia. Salamat po.
Lalaine Manalo says
Hello, Verna,
I am sorry but hindi ako familiar sa paggamit nang alternative sweeteners sa recipe na ito. I am thinking baka magbago ang texture because like you said, nagbago ang volume nang ingredients.
Evangeline Natividad says
taste good!! 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽 Thank you!!
Lalaine says
You’re welcome! I am glad you liked them 🙂
Angeling says
Thanks po sa recipe my employer love it …..
God bless po
Lalaine Manalo says
Thank sa feedback, Angeling. I am glad nagustuhan niyo 🙂
Gina says
hi instead of melted butter can i replace it to buttermilk thanks
Lalaine Manalo says
I am sorry but I haven’t tried buttermilk in this recipe so I am not sure how it would turn out 🙁
Sophia says
Hello I’ve been making puto just for merienda and I’ve noticed that the last batches of the prepared batter wouldn’t rise up it looked like kutsinta 😂 I don’t know why, can you help me? 😅
Lalaine Manalo says
I am sorry to hear that. I think the best way to prevent this is to stir the batter every time mag-fi-fill ka nang next batch para pantay ang distribution nang ingredients. Kung minsan kasi nagse-settle ang harina etc sa bottom nang bowl pag hindi hinahalo before i-pour.
Marie says
Hi Ms.Lalaine! I followed all the ingredients and steps naman po but it turned out na parang medyo siksik.Although the taste was absolutely great! Ano po kaya na miss out ko?Thank you.
Lalaine Manalo says
Hello, Marie,
I am sorry to hear hindi maganda ang naging texture sa ginawa mong puto. May I ask kung na-measure properly ang ingredients? Yun lang kasi ang naiisip ko dahilan why iba ang texture nila, yung nasobrahan nang flour
Bernadette says
Hi po, thank you so much for this recipe! I have cooked this several times now and it’s always a hit! Question lang po, bumili po ako ng bagong molds na medyo mas malaki and after I cooled the puto, parang it is still not as cooked/firm as the previous ones I made with the smaller molds. I think I needed to steam an extra minute or two kasi nga the mold is bigger. What do you recommend po to re-cook them – should I just microwave a few seconds more, or bake, or put back in steamer? Sayang naman if I throw them away.
Lalaine says
Sorry for the late response Bernadette. We were on the road so hindi ako nakaonline kahapon. If you still have the puto, just steam them for a few more minutes hanggan maluto 🙂
Marilyn middap says
Self -raising flour ba pwd gmitin sa puto? Thank or what kind flour po?.
Lalaine says
All purpose flour ang gagamitin 🙂